How to Be Vague in English
Why would you ever want to not give complete information?
Well, maybe because the information is sensitive or private. Or maybe because you only know a bit of the information instead of all of it.
In situations like these, it's good to be "vague," or "not clear or precise."
There are lots of English expressions that allow us to be vague. Since most of them have a very similar meaning, this article will simply list some options along with examples that demonstrate how to use them.
How to Be Vague With Amounts
The following words and expressions are useful when talking about things that can be counted or measured.
Around / About
There are around 15 people in line ahead of us.
We'll arrive at about 3 p.m. tomorrow.
Roughly
It will take roughly one week to finish the project.
Give or take
"Give or take" is often used together with other vague terms, such as "about" or "roughly."
There were about 100 people at the conference, give or take.
Approximately
The next town is approximately two hours from here.
This is often shortened to "approx." on signs and in documents.
Wait time: Approx. 15 minutes
~ Or so
Please note that this expression only comes after the number/amount, like in the examples below.
Traffic isn't bad, so we should get home in an hour or so.
We expect 50 or so people to attend the party.
In the neighborhood of ~
We're aiming for a performance boost in the neighborhood of 15%.
In the ballpark
This phrase is common in professional settings and is used specifically for estimates and in negotiations.
Is this price in the ballpark of what you were expecting?
Her proposal was in the ballpark of what we had in mind.
How to Be Vague With Concepts and Ideas
These words and expressions are common when talking about feelings, ideas and opinions that almost match something, though not completely.
A (little) bit
It tastes a bit like chicken.
We'll be a little bit late to the meeting.
Slightly
The novel's plot was slightly confusing at first.
Sort of (like ~)
The flavor is sort of sweet, but also a little sour.
Their music is sort of like punk mixed with reggae.
Kind of (like ~)
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese dish that's kind of like pizza.
Both "sort of" and "kind of" have an informal tone, so be careful where and when you use them.
More or less
We're more or less finished preparing for the party; we only need to clean up.
How to Be Vague in Responses
Many vague terms can also be used as responses to Yes/No questions, although they're best when followed up with more information.
A
Did you get wet in the storm?
B
A bit. Luckily, I parked close to the office.
A
Did you enjoy the performance?
B
Kind of. It was nice, but I was expecting more.
A
Are you ready to go?
B
More or less. Let me just grab my keys.
Wrap-up
Even if you don't know something exactly (or would rather not say directly), you can still speak confidently using vague words and phrases.
However, it's best not to rely on these expressions too much. Instead, use them only when you need them and you'll make a better impression on your conversation partners.
If you'd like to practice using these terms in a real conversation, book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and give them a try!
